Drainage gutter for screened enclosures



y 9 H. s. DUNN 2,983,079

DRAINAGE GUTTER FOR SCREENED ENCLOSURES Filed July 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HAROLD 5. DUNN,

A r TDRNE Y y 9, 1961 H. s, DUNN 2,983,079

DRAINAGE GUTTER FOR SCREENED ENCLOSURES Filed July 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II F g I I3 I I I I 9 r [I I I I g I I I r- I I N;

I 1 o I N g; T I 1 I I 1 I if IIIII I II, I j

- JNVENTOR; HAROLD 5. DUNN,

g wwkgag ,4 1- rdkue Y S at P I DRAINAGE This invention relates to a drainage gutter for use in connectionv with, screened enclosures and where the screened enclosures are connected to the side of a building structure having an overhanging roof.

Screened'enclosures embody rafter forming beams that extend longitudinally of the opening to be screened and with the rafter beams being connected in spaced apart relation by mullions and with the beams being supported at one end upon the conventional fascia board of the building. Heretofore it has been necessary to connect the beams withthe fascia board below the conventional gutters that normally receive water from a roof structure. To. install the beams upon the fascia boards, due to the conventional gutter arrangement, it has been necessary toh'ang'the beam below the gutter and usually results inlthe lower edge of the beam extending downwardly below$the fascia board, creating an objectionable situation and, since the beams and mullions are provided with spline grooves for the reception of the insect screening, it has been exceptionally difficult to install the insect screening in those areas that project under the gutter and also, ithas been necessary, when screening must be replaced that the entire structure be removed from the fascia board, since there is such a minimum clearance beneath the gutter as to make it impossible to install the splines into the grooves. The replacement of insect screening therefore has proven relatively expensive and also, it has been impossible to paint the conventional gutters when such becomes necessary.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a gutter device that is substituted for the conventional gutters and with the gutter device extending for the full length of the enclosure and parallel with respect to the building. An additional disadvantage with respect to the conventional gutter is, that leaves, trash and other objects are deposited between the insect screening and the bottom of the conventional gutter and creates a moisture condition that has a tendency to rot the fascia board and as before pointed out, the only way that the trash can be removed and the conventional gutter painted is to completely disassemble the structure of the enclosure. The gutter of this invention is used in combination with an overlying sheet of flashing that is positioned upon the outer face of the fascia t a t 2 ferred form of the device reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures. f w V .Inthe-drawings:

Figure 1 is a-fragmentarytop plan view of a screened" enclosure and an associated roof of a building,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken line 2-2 of Figure l and, a

Figure 3 isalongitudinal :vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure Figure 4 is afragmentary section illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in general outline, a roof structure, indicated by the numeral 5, has been indicated. The roof structure and associated structural member's form no part of the present invention. The roof structure is normally covered by a sheet of tar paper 6-and a metallic'flashing7 that underlies the tar paper and that extends downwardly upon the outer side '..relation, insect screening 12. The beams 10 are con- 7 nected in their spaced apart relation by mullion strips.

board and with its upper edge inserted beneath the con- 7 ventional roof flashing andwith its lower edge being outwardly angled so that the flashing forms a very important barrier against the passage of water to the fascia board and insures that all of the water will drain into a novel form of gutter devicethat is hingedly connected upon either the cross mullions or the beams so that it can be swung downwardly and cleaned with a rn-inimum of effort. It is also contemplated that the flashing and the gutter, as well as the beams and the mullions shall all be formed of aluminum having a high degree of resistance to corrosion.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accoinpanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a pree 13. Disposed over the outer face of the fascia board 8; is a sheet-of preferably aluminum flashing 14. The flashing 14 is inserted beneath the downturned portion of the;

.flashing 7, as clearly indicated in Figure 2. The flash-.

ing 14 at its lower edge is provided with an outwardly; angled lip 15. The flashing 14 is installed against the; fascia board prior to the connection of the beams 10 and:

forms a very desirable water barrier for the fascia board 8'. While the mullion strips have been here shown as be ing rectangular extruded tubes, it will be apparent that,

a section, corresponding to the beam- 10 may be installed;

in lieu ,of the separate strips 13. The mullion strips 13 are also provided with spline grooves 16, for the connection ofthe insect screening 12. The mullion strips are spaced away from the building a distance equal-to the width of the gutter. Fixed with respect to the mullion strips and extending between adjacent beams, is a preferably aluminum baifle sheet 17, that extends above the beams and has an outward angled lip portion 18. The

lower edge of the sheet 17 is angled inwardly as at-19. The sheet 17 will be positioned between each pair of beams. 10 to lie against the faces of the mullions 13 and is secured in any desirable manner against displacement. The upper extended portion of the sheet 17 constitutes a splash apron and whereby to prevent a considerable rush of water fromthe roof 5 falling over and into the screened enclosure.v The flashing sheet 14 is coextensive 1 with that area of the fascia board that constitutes the conn-ection for the screened structure.

Hingedly connected at 20, to the lower edges of each" of the beams 10, is a generally rectangular aluminum. gutter 21. The outer side of the gutter 21 is adapted to be disposed beneath the lip 19, while the oppositez side of the gutter 21 is adapted to be disposed beneath ,1 the lip 15 of the flashing 14.. The gutter is coextensive a? with the screened enclosure and completely underlies that portion of the roof structure upon which the t The gutter 21 will be closed at one .end and its opposite end opening outwardly of the side of the screened area. The gutter. 1 is upwardly opening to receive any water that falls from A the roof 5. The inner side wall of the gutter at ,Pl'dQ-m 5 termined spacing is provided with angles 22, that are fixedly connected to the side of the gutter and with theQf; angles being apertured upona horizontal leg to'receive screened structure is positioned.

2,983,079 a Pate ted- May 9,1961;

and wherein like characters l substantially on T 3 a fastening bolt 23, that may be carried by the lower edge of the fascia board 8. Wing nut 24 engages the bolt for holding the gutter in the operative position. As will be obvious, the gutter may be constructed to have a, longitudinal incline upon its bottom to more readily drain water therefrom.

In the use of the device, with the flashing sheet 14 first installed with its upper edge projecting beneath the lip 9 of the flashing 7 the beams 10 are then installed and anchored against the sheet 14 and the fascia board 8 in any conventional manner. The flashing =14 thus constitutes a continuous and uninterrupted barrier against water passing to the fascia board 8. The mullions 13 are then installed in the usual manner and the entire upper edges of the beams and the upper mullion is connected with the insect screening by the usual vinyl splines customary in connecting insect screening. With the beams and mullions in position, the splash strips 17 are then fitted against the mullions 13 to be coextensive with the opening between the beams and with the sheet 17 extending above the beams as a splash shield. The gutter 21 is then hingedly connected to the bottoms of the several beams 10 or, the hinges 20 may of course be connected to the lower mullion 13. The gutter is then swung upwardly so that the horizontal leg of the angle 22 engages the bolt 23, after which the wing nut is threaded upon the bolt to firmly clamp the gutter in a water receiving position. The gutter thus extends for the full width of the screened enclosure to underlie all of the beams and to constitute a catch receptacle for that area of the roof that projects partially over the screened enclosure. When it becomes necessary to clean the gutter from accumulation of leaves and other trash, the nuts 24 are removed and the gutter swung downwardly upon its hinges 20, permitting an operator to easily clean the gutter from end to end. The entire structure constituting the screened enclosure, the sheets 14 and 17 and the gutter are all formed of aluminum having a high degree of resistance to corrosion and avoiding any painting although it will be apparent, that the gutter and the screened structure may be decorated in any desirable manner.

In Figure 4 of the invention, there has been illustrated a slightly modified form of gutter supporting means. In this form of the invention, a flashing sheet 14a is extended downwardly below the fascia board and bent to form a rectangular shaped drainage gutter 21a. In this form of the invention, the gutter is swung downwardly by bending upon the line of the flashing 14a slightly below the beams 10, such being a novel form of binge connection with respect to the integral flashing 14a and the gutter 21a and, since the infrequency of the gutter being shifted downwardly would not permanently effect the bending of the flashing. The gutter 21a is therefore provided upon its outer wall with a bracket 22a, receiving a threaded fastening device 23a carried by the beams. A nut 24a serves to rigidly hold the gutter in the drainage position. The integral forming of the flashing 14a and the gutter 21a eliminates the lip portion 15, illustrated in the first form of the invention. The sheet 17 and its lip 19 are identical to that previously described. It will be apparent, that when the gutter 21a is to be cleaned from an accumulation of leaves and other trash, the operator merely removes the nut 24a and bends the gutter downwardly along the line of bending of the flashing sheet 14a.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of drainage gutter has been provided for those types of screened enclosures that are normally connected to the side of a building, such as the conventional fascia boards. The device completely substitutes for the conventional gutters that necessitated the beams being lowered upon the fascia boards to an objectionable extent. With this type of drainage gutter, the entire beam can be supported at its end against the fascia board, giving a maximum supporting area. With the conventional gutters, it was necessary to lower the beams to such an extent that they projected beneath the fascia boards, requiring that the open ends be capped and also lowering the head room to an objectionable extent. The structure is simple, completely forms a drainage trough for water draining from the roof and provides the very desirable water barrier by the use of the flashing sheet 14. The structure greatly simplifies the installation of the enclosure, is cheap to manufacture, is strong, durable, presents a very desirable drainage gutter that may be easily cleaned and avoids the very diflicult replacement for insect screening, when the device was used with the old conventional gutters since, as previously pointed out in order to rescreen the top of the area, it became necessary that the entire structure be taken down.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a permanent building structure and an attached screened enclosure, the building embodying a roof structure, a fascia board secured thereto and roof flashing secured to the roof structure, the screened enclosure comprising spaced rafter beams and connecting mullion beams, a drainage gutter device connected to the bottoms of the rafter beams to extend outwardly from the fascia board to receive water draining from the roof, a water barrier mounted over the face of the fascia board and a splash sheet for the screened enclosure, said splash sheet being located between the mullion beams, the gutter being co-extensive with the screened enclosure and means connecting the gutter to the beamswhereby the gutter may be swung downwardly for cleaning.

2. A drainage gutter for building structures wherein a screened enclosure is extended from a main building structure having a roof and a fascia board, the screened enclosure having a roof structure that comprises a plurality of spaced apart parallel rafter forming beams, the rafter forming beams being connected by transversely extending mullion beams and with certain of the mullion beams being in spaced apart relation and parallel to the fascia board, the roof of the main building being pro vided with a flashing strip, a metallic flashing sheet that overlies the outer face of the fascia board for the full length of the. screened enclosure and with the sheet at its upper edge underlying the said first named flashing and whereby to form a water barrier for the face of the fascia board, the said sheet at its lower marginal edge being outwardly angled to form a drainage lip, a water bafile that extends between the rafter beams, to lie against adjacent mullion beams, the said baffle provided with an angular lip, a drainage gutter device of rectangular shape in cross section, that spans the transverse opening between the fascia board and the next adjacent mullion beams, the said gutter being co-extensive in length to the screened enclosure, hinged means for supporting the gutter upon the bottoms of the beams and whereby the marginal edges of the gutter underlie the drainage and angular lips and means to detachably connect the gutter to the bottom of the fascia board and whereby the gutter is disposed in full underlying relation to a flow opening defined by the flashing sheet and the baffle to receive drainage water from the roof of the main building.

3. The building structure in combination with a screened area, the building structure including a main building having a roof structure, a fascia board and a flashing strip for the roof structure that extends downwardly over the upper marginal portion of the fascia board, the screened structure embodying a plurality of rafter forming beams that are in spaced apart parallel relation, one end of the beams having connection with the fascia board to underlie an overhang of the roof and the flashing, mullion beams that are connected to the rafter beams, the mullion beams next adjacent to the fascia board being spaced outwardly to define vertical openings, a continuous sheet of metallic flashing that is disposed over the outer face of the fascia board and to be co-extensive with the roof of the screened enclosure, the upper marginal edge of the sheet being disposed beneath the flashing of the roof and whereby to'form a water barrier for the fascia board, the lower marginal edge of the sheet being angledoutwardly to form a drip lip, the ends of the rafter beams engaging the outer face of the sheet, a water bafile sheet that extends between the rafter beams and against the inner faces of the mullion beams, the baffle sheet having an inwardly angled drip lip at its lower edge, the said baffie sheet being extended above the beams to provide a splash'guard, the baffle sheet being fixedly connected with respect to the beams, a drainage gutter that is rectangular in cross section and that is co-extensive in length to the screened enclosure, the gutter being trough-like, having a bottom and side walls, hinge means connecting one side wall with the bottoms of the rafter beams and with its marginal edge underlying the lip of the baffle sheet and whereby the gutter may be swung downwardly, bracket devices carried upon the opposite side wall of the gutter and that is detachably connected to the bottom edge of the fascia board and whereby to maintain the gutter in operative drainage position, the upper marginal edge of the last named side wall underlying the lip of the flashing sheet, the said roof adapted to deposit water into the openings defined by the fascia board and the mullion beams for drainage into the gutter.

4. A screened enclosure for supporting connection with a permanent building structure of the type that has an overhanging roof, a fascia board and a flashing strip for the roof that extends downwardly over the fascia board, the screened structure being defined by a plurality of rafter forming beams that are spaced apart and parallel and with one end of the beams adapted to be supported by the fascia board, mullion beams extending between the rafter beams and that are spaced outwardly from the fascia board to define vertical open passages, the mullion beams and the rafter beams having spline grooves in their upper edges to receive insect screening in spline relation and whereby to constitute a roof for the screened enclosure, an aluminum flashing strip that is fixed upon the outer face of the fascia board to be co-extensive with the area for connection of the rafter beams, the adjacent ends of the rafter beams having abutting engagement with the sheet and connected to the fascia board, the sheet having its upper edge underlying the flashing of the roof, the lower edge of the sheet being provided with an outwardly angled lip that is disposed beneath the bottoms of the beams and for the full length of the screened enclosure, aluminum bathe sheets that extend between the rafter beams to lie against the mullion beams and whereby'toff form a splash shield for the vertical openings, the last named sheet at its lower edge having an inwardly angled lip, the last named sheet being'extended above the beams and with its marginal edge being angled outwardly and whereby to form a splash shield for water that drains from the roof, an extruded aluminum gutter device of trough-shape, having a bottom wall and side walls and with the gutter being upwardly opening, one side wall being hingedly connected to the bottoms of the rafter beams, the opposite side wall of the gutter being provided with an angle bracket, the bracket being apertured Y to engage a threaded fastening device carried upon the bottom edge of the fascia board and whereby to hold the gutter device in an operative drainage position, the saidgutter device adapted to be swung downwardly for cleaning when the threaded fastening device is removed, the upper marginal edges of the side walls adapted to be disposed beneath the lips of the flashing sheet and the battle metal that overlies the fascia board for the full length of the screened enclosure, the said flashing sheet extending downwardly beneath the lower edges of the beams and shaped to form the gutter device that underlies the beams, the gutter device being shiftable downwardly and having hinged connection with the flashing sheet upon a line of bending, a bracket carried by one outer side of the gutter and that is detachably secured to the bottoms of the beams to prevent the gutter from flexing downwardly with respect to the flashing sheet and a water baflle sheet that spans the openings between the beams, the said baffle sheet being provided with an inwardly angled lip that overlies the gutter, the said screened enclosure also embodying transverse mullion beams that are spaced outwardly from the flashing sheet and whereby to form vertical openings between the beams to receive drainage water from the roof, the said gutter being rectangular in shape and having a width corresponding to the width of the openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

